US calls on China to free scholar fighting graft

The U.S. government on Thursday called on Chinese authorities to release the founder of a grassroots movement, with the ambassador saying he was deeply concerned his trial was retribution for the scholar's campaign to expose official corruption.

The New Citizens group, which has called for the disclosure of officials' assets to curb graft and for equal opportunities in education, has come under fire even though many of its issues overlap with the stated goals of Communist Party leaders. But the campaign against the grassroots activists reflects the leadership's wariness of any group that could generate enough momentum to challenge its one-party rule.

Legal scholar and New Citizens founder Xu Zhiyong went on trial Wednesday on charges of disturbing public order, and up to six other members were to be tried Thursday and Friday, though three of the trials were postponed.

U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke said he was "deeply concerned" that Xu's trial "and the prosecution of other good-governance advocates are retribution for their public campaigns to expose official corruption and for the peaceful expression of their views."

In a statement late Thursday, he said: "These prosecutions are the latest in a series of arrests of public interest lawyers, Internet activist journalists, religious leaders, and others who peacefully challenge official policies and actions in China."

Locke said the U.S. government "calls on Chinese authorities to release Xu and other political prisoners immediately, to cease any restrictions on their freedom of movement, and to guarantee them the protections and freedoms to which they are entitled under China's international human rights commitments."

Late Wednesday, the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court announced it had released venture capitalist Wang Gongquan, one of Xu's strongest allies, from detention after Wang confessed to planning to disrupt public order. The state-run Beijing Times quoted Wang as expressing remorse, promising to cut ties with Xu, and suggesting Xu also admit guilt.

"The authorities want to use this to humiliate Wang Gongquan while dividing supporters of the New Citizens movement," legal scholar Teng Biao said in an interview.

Xu is expected to be found guilty and sentenced to up to five years in prison. He refused to answer any questions in court Wednesday. Instead, he tried to read a lengthy statement at the end of the proceedings but was cut off by a judge after 10 minutes.

That statement - a manifesto apparently aimed at the broader Chinese public - was released by his lawyer later Wednesday. However, references to it on China's social media and file-sharing services were deleted by censors, and there was no coverage in state media of his trial.

His statement is likely circulating in a very limited way among activists and supporters via cellphone messages.

"The day will come when the 1.3 billion Chinese will stand up from their submissive state and grow to be proud and responsible citizens. China will become a country that enjoys a civilized political system and a happy society in which freedom, justice, and love prevail," Xu wrote.

"The disempowered will be redeemed, as will you, you who sit high above with fear and shadows in your hearts."

Foreign journalists and outside observers were not allowed into Xu's trial. Police were unusually aggressive in blocking foreign reporters from the court venue, in some cases roughly whisking crews into vehicles to remove them from the scene. Locke also said he was deeply concerned that police mistreated journalists covering the trial, and urged Chinese authorities to ensure foreign journalists are able to carry out their work.

Last year, a document purportedly circulated by the Communist Party's top leadership warned of the dangers of citizen movements, characterizing them as Western-backed groups aimed at forming a political opposition force.

Since April, at least 17 people associated with the New Citizens movement have been arrested.

On Thursday, a court in Beijing's Haidian district postponed the trial of New Citizens member Zhao Changqing until at least February after defense lawyers questioned the legitimacy of the court, complained they were prevented from copying evidence, and raised doubts over whether Zhao would get an open trial, said his lawyer, Zhang Xuezhong.

Another activist, Hou Xin, pleaded not guilty at her trial Thursday, her lawyer, Ding Xikui, said. No defense witnesses were allowed and no verdict was announced, he said.

Hou's charge stems from her unfurling banners with three other people in a Beijing commercial district calling for the disclosure of officials' assets.

Two trials originally scheduled for Friday also were postponed to Monday, probably because of the unavailability of some of the defendants' lawyers, two lawyers involved in the cases said.

Xu said in his statement that a rally held last February to petition the Education Ministry did not disrupt public order because it had been peaceful and orderly and that the ministry - as a government entity - is excluded from the definition of public places in China's criminal code.

"Public order was not disrupted as a result of our actions, which infringed on the legitimate rights of no one," Xu wrote. "I understand clearly that some people have to make sacrifices, and I for one am willing to pay any and all price for my belief in freedom, justice, love, and for a better future of China.

"If you insist on persecuting the conscience of a people, I openly accept that destiny and the glory that accompanies it."

Chinese policemen stand guard as they condone off streets near the Haidian District Court, where Zhao Changqing, an activist of the New Citizens movement, was to stand trial in Beijing Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. China's authorities and state media highlighted a prominent businessmanís renunciation of ties to the grassroots social movement that he had financed and his alleged suggestion that the movementís founder Xu Zhiyong should confess to crimes on Thursday, while authorities are postponing several trials of members of the movement amid tight security. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)